Sons has rough outing against Danville Braves

Former Comet standout Dylan Sons ran into turbulence Saturday night in Danville, taking the loss after a late innings relief effort went awry.

Sons found trouble and the Burlington Royals fell to the Danville Braves, 4-2, at Dan Daniel Park.

In the series finale, the Royals led heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. At that point, the D-Braves plated three runs to forge a comeback win.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Danville second baseman Omar Obregon was hit by a pitch from Sons. Danville third baseman Jordan Edgerton followed with a single and both runners went to third on a wild pitch. Matt Tellor drilled a two-run double into the left-center field gap, and both runners scored. After another hit by a pitch and a walk, Tellor was on third and scored on another wild pitch.

In one short burst, recent good work by Sons had unraveled.

Sons was credited with one inning of work in the loss, with two hits and three earned runs allowed. He walked one, fanned a batter and saw his ERA rise to 4.26.

So far this season with the Burlington Royals, Sons is 1-2 with eight appearances. Sons has worked 12.2 innings, with seven runs allowed, six earned. He has walked 12 batters and fanned 10.

Sons is keeping a positive attitude about his professional career.

The Royals, appearing in Danville in a series with the Braves’ Appalachian rookie league club, are carrying 21 hurlers, according to the current roster. Getting consistent innings can be an issue, and that’s one hurdle in Sons’ progress.

Sons believes he is making progress since his recovery from a muscle strain in his elbow.

He’s still dealing with the adjustments to professional baseball.

“The batters are a lot better obviously ... the leadoff batter all the way through the lineup ... ....

I feel like I’m making progress. We’ve got pretty good coaches ... to help us get through the season,” said Sons.

Sons landed in rehab after straining the flex muscle in his elbow. The left hander said it took a while to get the feel back in his pitching arm after the injury. At first, Sons would feel tightness after an appearance. Now, he feels no pain after pitching. It’s a “world of difference,” he said.

Sons eventually sees himself as a starter, even as he works out of the bullpen for now. He is uncertain of his future progress in the Royals organization, but seems positive about the journey.

“Keep pitching good, get batters out, go from there,” he said.

The 21-year-old believes the Royals see potential in him, but also knows this is a business.

“It’s a job now. We still joke around and stuff, but you’ve got to get the job done, Sons said.

“He’s one of those guys we can count on, but due to number of pitchers we have, (he’s) not getting that many innings,” Martinez said.

Martinez said the Royals think the left hander can eventually be a starting pitcher. And it’s likely Sons won’t be set back too far by one tough outing - it happens to almost everyone at this level at some point - but he needs to cut down on the number of walks allowed in his innings pitched.

Sons’ arm appears to be OK, Martinez said. Sons is in Burlington on a rehabilitation assignment.